International peace activists return home

Two Australian human-rights activists were detained for 36 hours after flying into Israel and saying they wanted to go to Palestine.

Former Greens MP Sylvia hale and Vivienne Porzsolt from Jews Against the Occupation believe that a legal precedent may have been set that would mean others in the future could request to cross the Israeli border into Palestine.

Ms Hale, a Petersham resident, Ms Porzsolt and Chippendale local Michael Coleman had planned to join a humanitarian flotilla convening in Greece and bound for Gaza.  The flotilla was not allowed to leave Greece after authorities discovered its destination.  Mr Coleman was detained on the July 5 while trying to impede the movement of a Greek boat in a Kayak.

Ms Hale and Ms Porzolt made the decision to fly to Tel Aviv along with around 120 others; calling it a ‘flytilla’.

The bulk of the flytilla was involved in the ‘Welcome to Israel’ initiative, in which people attempt to visit family and friends in Palestinian territories.  The initiative seeks to highlight Israel’s methods of strictly controlling their own borders, as well as those that belong to the Palestinian people.

Most participants were refused entry to Israel after the Israeli authorities obtained their names from the group’s Facebook page, according to Sylvia Hale.

Upon arrival in Israel, the two Australians were asked where they planned to visit.

Ms Hale said, “The only response we gave was ‘We want to go to Palestine’.

“The consternation on the officer’s face was quite amusing to see.”

After a lengthy equiry with immigration officers, the two were led to a holding cell in which they would spend the next 36 hours.

Ms Hale said at no stage was she afraid for her safety and that the Israeli Authorities eventually met her requests for food and a shower.

While incarcerated, the two women sought advice from Australian consular officials as well as a local lawyer with expertise in international humanitarian law. They then made an official request to cross the Israeli border into Palestinian territory.

According to Ms Hale, it is rare for visitors to declare their intentions to visit Palestine upon arrival in Israel. She said most state they don’t plan to leave Israel and then make a clandestine visit to the Palestinian territory.

If the women were ruled to be able to cross the border, it could mean applications for border crossing could be made once in Israel. It would also mean there would be need to be sufficient reason for an applicaton to be denied.

The condition of the request was they must leave Israel within 24 hours of their application being declined.  Over a week later, they are yet to receive a reply.

Ms Hale has returned to Sydney while Ms Porzsolt remains in Israel.  They plan to appeal any judgment that does not allow them to cross the border freely.